Share your knowledge on these two classic MPCs
By animalliberationfunk Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:51 pm
Hi there I am new to the mpc3000 and not the most techincal at that but I have one and it has some issues when sampling. For one there is alot of static when it tries to sample even if nothing is plugged into it, when it is plugged inthe signal comes through very quietly, it comes off a turntable into a behringer ddm4000 mixer then to the mpc through the mixers output b, I have to turn the output from the mixer to full (very loud) and the record volume in knob on the mpc has to be turned 3/4 of the way up to pass threshold one and begin recording, once it surpasses that the sound is quiet and full of static. I have messed around with the gain switch on the back, and nothing seems to work. I have also tried plugging a turntable into the mpc directly with rca cables but the noise was the same. Please help I have been trying to figure this out for a while now and I still have not been able to successfully sample anything yet! :(
By animalliberationfunk Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:50 pm
what if i wish to actually sample in mono? won't that cable make both sides go into the left, therefore causing it to be in stereo always? When I sample something like drums I'd like to do it with a mono sound wouldn't I? I am still new to this so im not sure how the sound will come through any further help would be greatly appreciated. Also I use shure m447 cartridges do you think those will produce an inferior sound?
User avatar
By duffy Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:44 am
Which steps did you follow?
If you mono from headphone jack and the jack outputs mono you got mono. - i just messed up.
If you want mono you need to output left and right from dj mixer and then sample either signal.
I sample mono because ?? my dj mixer input lights don't sync. ie like when the left channel hits -3db right hits -6db. So with mono now my signal comes out the outs of my mpc with no pan effect.
Static? Could be cables, ground wire from turntable to mixer, wires from cartridge to headshell.
I personally wouldn't sample direct from a turntable to mpc if the turntable has no ground wire.
I personally wouldn't sample direct from a turntable to mpc to correct low sampling issue. You could try a different mixer also. You could hire a mpc 500. The best thing to do is to make one change at a time so you can eliminate the problem. You can use any cartridge with your turntable inferior superior drawing your attention 2 potential low input volume issuerior. 447 was made popular by the scratch videos of the mid/late 90's due to superior stability performance. But every cartridge is engineered different just like every stylus. Stability v Sound output v Frequency response. Some people run there dj mixer through a 002r before sampling. Some people spend $2000 on a dj cartridge. Why. Because its not. the slight differences which make a signature sound. If you use your turntable to only sample records use a m447. Theres so many other cartridges on the market. Hope that helps.
By animalliberationfunk Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:55 pm
I very much appreciate all your advice and but its not quite answering my orignal question. Why can't I use the rca output from my mixer "Output B" (this has its own seperate knob for volume) into the mpc. Whenever I do I need to turn the volume up really high on the mixers output (b) and also I need to turn the mpc's record level knob almost to full just to get passed threshold 1. If I have nothing plugged into the mpc's input and I press record and monitor the noise it is just static. When I do plug something in and try to sample it the static is still there, and the static drowns out the noise of the sample. The sample sounds quiet despite the volumes being almost maxxed out. Again I have a behringer ddm4000 mixer, I am recording off a numark tt200 with shure cartridges/stylus, rca cables connect the turntable to the mixer, there are ground cables plugged into the mixer in the appropriate area, the mixer then uses rca outputs to the mpc. When I change the gain it only makes the sound slightly louder while making the static louder. I have also tried the record out channel of the mixer (rca) and I have tried plugging the turntables rcas directly into the mpc while grounding it on the mixer. It always has static and it always requires very loud volume and record levels to get a quite, staticy sample, when the sample hits any high notes the static gets much worse. I havent been able to properly use this thing yet because of this and I've owned it a few months. Please Help Thank you so much for your time
User avatar
By duffy Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:12 pm
animalliberationfunk wrote:Why can't I use the rca output from my mixer "Output B" (this has its own seperate knob for volume) into the mpc. .


Only you can answer that question.
Do you think its the mpc?
If yes then reset the parameters.
If problem persists then service centre.
If no, then don't test it with another sampler?
3000 works straight out the box no tweaks needed.

Do you think its the mixer?
If yes substitute it with another mixer.

Do you think its the needle?
If yes replace it with another needle.

Do you think its the cable?
If yes replace it with another cable.

Hope this helps.